thrilled new BP owner - first problem. Help!

Also, thanks alot to everybody who's replied (or replies later)!!! I really appreciate the help!

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Originally Posted by bearhart

Yea, he does have a sort of "chilled out" period when you first take him out and then eventually he starts getting more active. One thing we do is put a temporary hide in the area over a heating pad on low. Once he gets squirmy we let him cruise in there for a while. He eventually comes out and explores some more.

lord jackel:
Yes, the change is what drives me nuts. I have regularly improved his cage both for his sake and for aethesic reasons. I started out with the recycled paper substrate, an upside down coaster holder for a hide, and a cool rock I found in my backyard (and boiled for safety), and a little water dish.
Over time I've made the following changes:

* I switched to a spagnum/fir substrate
* Got a big water dish he could fit in and half covered it with a peice of cork bark. I also moved his dish to sit on the warm side next to his hide.
* I changed his hide to be an upside down peice of curled cork bark with pete moss to fill in the walls. This is right next to his water dish so he can snake back and forth easily.
* I got him this really cool peice of grape wood that has all sorts of ways to crawl on.
* I started misting his cage about once a day. He really seems to like drinking the droplets off the cage walls.

I've always had a 50W red heat lamp on most of the time. He's always had an under-tank heater.

The floor of the warm side it about 82-87 degrees. I keep the bedding very thin in his hide to let the undertank heat come through. I imagine its 90deg at least because sometimes when I take him out he feels about the same temperature as a person that's been under blankets. Nice and warm... (I should measure it though).

I just got a Hydrogemeter (sp?) that says about 50% but I don't have much confidence in it yet.

Perhaps he didn't like his cage at first and now he's happy and acting normal? Its pretty sweet compared to the pet store.

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WOW...those are some massive changes...I would agree for the better. You have added a lot of items that increase the humidity...if you are just reading 50% now then my guess is you were really low before or it is way wrong. Is the sensor digital or one of these stick on types? Either way you need to be sure...if it is wrong and too high you risk an RI.

Maybe I missed something in reading your posts but how are you measuring temps in the cage? Also you say the warm side is 82-87 and you keep the substrate thin in his hide and you imagine it is 90?
You may want to get an accurite temp gauge which will monitor you cool side and hot side and humidity all in one unit. ( Walmart,Lowes carries the unit for about 12-15 dollars) Warm side should be at least 90

Other than that if he is eating ok, he sounds like he has justed settled in and feels safe in his home.

I forget the brand (and don't have it handy). Its a stick on type that appears to work on a metal coil (like my thermometer). I still can't figure out how you can measure humidity with a metal coil.

I forgot to add a change - to increase the temperate I cut off most of the airflow on the warm side. There is about a 4 inch vent on top of the cool side as well as some various holes here and there around the heat lamp.

So, the humidity is 50% at the cool-side vent. I only got it today and haven't had a chance to measure down in hot side. I'm trying to see if the thing actually works first! I imagine its more humid in there because of the heated water dish and moisture retaining peet moss. He used to soak for days solid but once I put more peet moss in and started daily mistings he cut that out and stays in his regular hide now.

I have this basic metal-coil thermometer that is round and meant to stick to the cage. The pet store people said don't stick it to the cage just set it in there. So I just prop it up somewhere in the warm side. The center of the thermometer sits about 3/4 inch above the surface.

Here we go. I have all Exo-Terra stuff.

"Heat-wave" under tank heater (takes up a little more than a third of a long 20 gallon).

Also, thermometer and hydogemeter.

Stick on types are very inaccurite. You need to get rid of those and get a accurite type of unit. It is a compact digital unit that shows indoor/outdoor temps and humidity. The unit itself measures the in ( cool side ) and humidity and then it has a probe you can run over to the hot side to measure the out temp ( hot side ).
I would try to upgrade as soon as you can. Then check your temps.
Your temps/humidity may be way off now and could be a reason for the change in your bp.

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Originally Posted by jotay

Stick on types are very inaccurite. You need to get rid of those and get a accurite type of unit. It is a compact digital unit that shows indoor/outdoor temps and humidity. The unit itself measures the in ( cool side ) and humidity and then it has a probe you can run over to the hot side to measure the out temp ( hot side ).
I would try to upgrade as soon as you can. Then check your temps.
Your temps/humidity may be way off now and could be a reason for the change in your bp.

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Can you recommend some products?

They make a brand called "accurite" it can be found at Walmart or Lowes , usually in the home/garden section. It sells for about 12-15 dollars and runs on a single aaa battery. It is like folks use in thier homes to check temps etc.

Do a search under " accurite" and in some of the threads people have posted a pic of what it looks like.
Hope this helps

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Originally Posted by jotay

Other than that if he is eating ok, he sounds like he has justed settled in and feels safe in his home.

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Yea, all bad BP tales seem to involve hunger strike. I guess I'll just rely on that as a good affirmation of his happiness.

Well I feel tons better and will continue to improve his home. I'm sure my $70 snake will eventually live in a $1000 house :) He just so stinkin' cute!